Hobbit and Actors Equity

I'd say that NZ Actors Equity has a strong case for a better deal on American productions. The producers are looking for the best balance of value and psychic distance, and NZ is the cheapest place in the world for a good supply of white native-English-speakers with developed-world mannerisms in a not excessively exotic natural environment.

If you wanted to find cheaper mobile scenery than this, where would you go?

Africa, China and South America are out unless you're doing a movie with a specific cultural theme.

Eastern Europe has whities who could do a good elf (and they have pointier ears), but these days you'd have to go really far east to escape the worker-enfranchising attentions of the EU - think Serbia or Ukraine. Good luck getting any of them to step up to fill out the gaps - you'd have to fly in anyone with a speaking part.